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| US election 2020: Trump taunts 'little' Bloomberg to challenge him | US election 2020: Trump taunts 'little' Bloomberg to challenge him |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has taunted former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg amid reports that he is ready to jump into the White House race. | US President Donald Trump has taunted former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg amid reports that he is ready to jump into the White House race. |
| Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump said of the billionaire businessman: "There is nobody I'd rather run against than little Michael." | Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump said of the billionaire businessman: "There is nobody I'd rather run against than little Michael." |
| Mr Bloomberg is expected to file paperwork for the presidential primary in Alabama on Friday. | Mr Bloomberg is expected to file paperwork for the presidential primary in Alabama on Friday. |
| But advisers say he has not yet made his final decision. | But advisers say he has not yet made his final decision. |
| What else did President Trump say? | What else did President Trump say? |
| On Friday, Mr Trump said Mr Bloomberg "doesn't have the magic" to make it to the White House. | On Friday, Mr Trump said Mr Bloomberg "doesn't have the magic" to make it to the White House. |
| He continued: "He's not going to do well, but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually." | He continued: "He's not going to do well, but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually." |
| Calling him "a nothing", Mr Trump said on Friday that Mr Bloomberg "will fail" if he joins the Democratic race. | Calling him "a nothing", Mr Trump said on Friday that Mr Bloomberg "will fail" if he joins the Democratic race. |
| What did Bloomberg's aide say? | What did Bloomberg's aide say? |
| In a statement, Bloomberg adviser Howard Wolfson said: "We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated. | In a statement, Bloomberg adviser Howard Wolfson said: "We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated. |
| "But Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do that." | "But Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do that." |
| Mr Bloomberg is said to be fully aware such a belated entry to the race could present challenges in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, where other Democratic contenders have been campaigning for months. | Mr Bloomberg is said to be fully aware such a belated entry to the race could present challenges in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, where other Democratic contenders have been campaigning for months. |
| The Bloomberg team reportedly sees a possible pathway through the so-called Super Tuesday contests in March, when 14 states, including California, Alabama and Colorado, will vote on a single day for their preferred White House nominee. | |
| Mr Bloomberg has twice before considered running for the White House as an independent candidate, in 2008 and 2016. | Mr Bloomberg has twice before considered running for the White House as an independent candidate, in 2008 and 2016. |
| The 77-year-old had said only in March this year that he would not run for president, reportedly because of the perceived dominance of Democratic front-runner Joe Biden. | The 77-year-old had said only in March this year that he would not run for president, reportedly because of the perceived dominance of Democratic front-runner Joe Biden. |
| But he is understood to have recently voiced scepticism that any of the current Democratic field could beat Mr Trump in the election a year from now. | But he is understood to have recently voiced scepticism that any of the current Democratic field could beat Mr Trump in the election a year from now. |
| What happens next? | What happens next? |
| If Mr Bloomberg does get on the ballot in Alabama by Friday, he will still have to register in other states which have later filing deadlines. | If Mr Bloomberg does get on the ballot in Alabama by Friday, he will still have to register in other states which have later filing deadlines. |
| His advisers are reportedly preparing the necessary paperwork for other states with upcoming deadlines. Both Arkansas and New Hampshire require candidates to file by next week. | His advisers are reportedly preparing the necessary paperwork for other states with upcoming deadlines. Both Arkansas and New Hampshire require candidates to file by next week. |
| State-by-state votes, known as primaries and caucuses, will be held from February next year to pick a Democratic White House nominee. | State-by-state votes, known as primaries and caucuses, will be held from February next year to pick a Democratic White House nominee. |
| The eventual winner will be crowned at the party convention in Wisconsin in July. He or she is expected to face President Trump, a Republican, in the general election in November. | The eventual winner will be crowned at the party convention in Wisconsin in July. He or she is expected to face President Trump, a Republican, in the general election in November. |
| A total of 17 Democratic candidates are vying to be the party's standard-bearer. | A total of 17 Democratic candidates are vying to be the party's standard-bearer. |
| Mr Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are the current front-runners. | Mr Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are the current front-runners. |
| What's the other reaction? | What's the other reaction? |
| At a campaign fundraiser in Boston on Thursday, Mr Biden did not address Mr Bloomberg's potential candidacy. | At a campaign fundraiser in Boston on Thursday, Mr Biden did not address Mr Bloomberg's potential candidacy. |
| Ms Warren welcomed Mr Bloomberg to the race on Twitter, linking to her own campaign website and suggesting the former mayor take a look for potential policy plans. | Ms Warren welcomed Mr Bloomberg to the race on Twitter, linking to her own campaign website and suggesting the former mayor take a look for potential policy plans. |
| In a more pointed response, seemingly directed at Mr Bloomberg, Mr Sanders wrote on Twitter: "The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared." | In a more pointed response, seemingly directed at Mr Bloomberg, Mr Sanders wrote on Twitter: "The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared." |
| Some recent opinion polls have suggested that Ms Warren and Mr Sanders - who are more politically liberal than Mr Biden - might face an uphill battle against Mr Trump. | Some recent opinion polls have suggested that Ms Warren and Mr Sanders - who are more politically liberal than Mr Biden - might face an uphill battle against Mr Trump. |
| The Republican National Committee said in a statement that the billionaire's prospective entry "underscores the weak Democrat field". | The Republican National Committee said in a statement that the billionaire's prospective entry "underscores the weak Democrat field". |
| Who is Bloomberg? | Who is Bloomberg? |
| Mr Bloomberg's net worth is $52bn (£40bn), according to Forbes. This is nearly 17 times more than that of Mr Trump ($3.1bn). | Mr Bloomberg's net worth is $52bn (£40bn), according to Forbes. This is nearly 17 times more than that of Mr Trump ($3.1bn). |
| He was a Wall Street banker before going on to create the financial publishing empire that bears his name. | He was a Wall Street banker before going on to create the financial publishing empire that bears his name. |
| He staged a successful campaign for New York mayor in 2001, remaining in office for three consecutive terms through 2013. | He staged a successful campaign for New York mayor in 2001, remaining in office for three consecutive terms through 2013. |
| A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. | A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. |
| What does Bloomberg believe in? | What does Bloomberg believe in? |
| Originally a Democrat, Mr Bloomberg became a Republican to mount his campaign for New York mayor in 2001. | Originally a Democrat, Mr Bloomberg became a Republican to mount his campaign for New York mayor in 2001. |
| Now regarded as a moderate Democrat, he rejoined the party only last year. | Now regarded as a moderate Democrat, he rejoined the party only last year. |
| Mr Bloomberg has liberal views on issues such as climate change, gun control, immigration and abortion rights. | Mr Bloomberg has liberal views on issues such as climate change, gun control, immigration and abortion rights. |
| He was credited this week with helping Democrats win control of Virginia's legislature, after his gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety injected $2.5m into the state's election. | He was credited this week with helping Democrats win control of Virginia's legislature, after his gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety injected $2.5m into the state's election. |
| But Mr Bloomberg is more conservative on topics like the economy and policing. | But Mr Bloomberg is more conservative on topics like the economy and policing. |
| As mayor, he defended NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy, which critics say disproportionately targeted African Americans and Hispanics. Black voters are a vital constituency for Democrats. | As mayor, he defended NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy, which critics say disproportionately targeted African Americans and Hispanics. Black voters are a vital constituency for Democrats. |
| At city hall, Mr Bloomberg banned supersize sodas to prevent obesity, but was overruled by the state's Supreme Court. | At city hall, Mr Bloomberg banned supersize sodas to prevent obesity, but was overruled by the state's Supreme Court. |